One of the early sciences was alchemy. In addition to the search for a method for producing gold from base substances, the philosopher's stone or a cure-all medicine was also sought. Understandably, however, the interest of the European sovereigns lay mainly in the production of gold: They had laboratories built for experiments and called in alchemists from the far corners of the earth to their courts. Yet these often proved to be charlatans, and as a result the search for the right method of production became a costly adventure without tangible results.
Duke Friedrich I of Württemberg (1593-1608) promoted alchemy at his court in Stuttgart. But he didn't stop there. He bought a nobleman's seat on the edge of Kirchheim unter Teck and had another laboratory set up. Here three alchemists worked and researched in succession. However, none of them was able to supply the Duke with the coveted gold.
Heinrich Nüscheler was the first alchemist in Kirchheim. His life came to an abrupt end in 1601 on the gallows, as he had secretly added the precious metal to an ineffective tincture that was supposedly capable of transforming lead into gold. His successor, Alexander Stocker, also had no luck, but was able to save his neck with an ingenious defense. He claimed that the contract with the Duke never contained guarantees of success. The third and last alchemist, Hans Heinrich of Mühlenfels, was also unsuccessful. After he had hardly sent any gold to Stuttgart for two years, he admitted to his deceptions after being cruelly tortured and was sentenced to death on the gallows. The unsuccessful and expensive search for gold was extremely embarrassing for the client: Duke Friedrich I hired no further alchemists and closed down the alchemist's laboratory in Kirchheim unter Teck.